Coach ‘really proud’ despite Lisle’s upset loss in regional final

Colin McAuliffe – For Suburban Life Media
Sophomore Katelynn Weissinger will be part of Lisle's strong returning nucleus next season.

LISLE – Sometimes it’s just one of those days, and one of those days happened to Lisle’s girls soccer team May 10.

The Lions outshot Montini, took more corner kicks than Montini and generally outplayed the Broncos, but fell 1-0 in the championship game of the Class 1A Westmont regional.

“We did everything we were supposed to do except put it in the back of the net,” Lisle coach Paul Kohorn said. “I’m not sure how much more you can do without winning the game. We completely controlled the game, we just couldn’t put it in the net.

“It was a tough loss to take. In my years at Lisle, it was the toughest loss we’ve had.”

Kohorn said Lisle (14-8) launched 31 shots to Montini’s nine and had 10 corner kicks to zero for the Broncos, but a defensive area battle and shot from distance proved to be the difference.

“One of our midfielders was battling one of their midfielders in our area with our defender closing in,” Kohorn said. “They took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box, it went over our keeper’s head and landed in the back of the net.”

The regional loss was an abrupt ending for a Lisle team that had captured state trophies in two of the previous three seasons, but Kohorn and the Lions went down giving their best effort.

“I’m really proud of their effort in the game and we had a good season,” Kohorn said. “I told them, ‘You can do one of two things now. You can sit around and feel sorry for yourself or you can work hard to get ready for next season.’ There are just a few things we need to work on, but we’ll be OK.”

The playoff loss marked the end of the road for a small group of seniors, but when next season rolls around the Lions should once again be on the short list of possible state finalists.

“We’ve got a terrific sophomore group that has two more good years left,” Kohorn said. “And in Val Melo and Elena Pivek we have two really good juniors that are going to be leaders next year.”